{"id":5059,"date":"2022-11-02T15:00:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T22:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valleyhospicenv.com\/?p=5059"},"modified":"2022-11-14T00:25:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-14T08:25:06","slug":"alzheimers-disease-what-it-is-how-it-is-treated-and-what-it-means-to-care-for-such-a-patient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valleyhospicenv.com\/alzheimers-disease-what-it-is-how-it-is-treated-and-what-it-means-to-care-for-such-a-patient\/","title":{"rendered":"Alzheimer’s disease – what it is, how it is treated and what it means to care for such a patient"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Alzheimer’s, the best-known form of dementia, is a neurodegenerative disease that has the effect of destroying nerve cells. It is a typical condition of the elderly, but can also occur at 40-50 years. The exact causes are not known, and the treatment has only the effect of relieving the symptoms, not the cure.<\/p>
In the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, special care of the person concerned is essential, because a patient with this condition requires special attention. If in the early stages of the disease can be observed memory loss, in its advanced stage, the patient no longer has the ability to care for himself. In the following, we offer a guide on what Alzheimer’s means, what are the symptoms, possible causes, and risk factors, as well as what are the methods of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.<\/p>
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects memory, coherent thinking, and other important cognitive functions. Currently, there is no treatment to cure this condition and no ways to prevent it. The disease is still the subject of study in the medical world and the exact causes that lead to it are not known. Proper and timely diagnosis and the establishment of an appropriate treatment schedule are essential for increasing life expectancy with this disease.<\/p>
Also, the care of such a patient is very important and demanding, because, in addition to the fact that the person in question becomes dependent on outside help to cope with daily activities, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the disease itself, of a specialized training and special abilities. In such a situation, it is essential to find the necessary support.<\/p>
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Alzheimer’s disease progressively leads to the degeneration of nerve cells that eventually die. It is the best-known form of dementia, a continuous decline in cognitive function, which results in the inability of the affected person to function independently.<\/p>
Dementia itself is not a specific disease and can be caused by several factors, including degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Hutington’s. Each of these affects different areas of the brain and nerve cells. It should also be noted that not all forms of dementia are related to Alzheimer’s. Among them, we should mention vascular dementia, with Lewy bodies, mixed or frontotemporal.<\/p>
Dementia is a term used to describe a series of symptoms that affect memory, reasoning, social skills to such an extent that the patient can no longer support himself and needs specialized assistance to provide nutrition. adequate and the necessary support to be able to have a normal life as much as possible.<\/p>
An Alzheimer’s patient experiences very strong emotions: confusion, frustration, fear, anger, uncertainty, depression, mental pain (especially in the early stages of the disease, when he realizes very well that major changes will take place in his life and that they do not will be able to control). A person who cares for such a patient can help him cope with these overwhelming emotional states, sometimes through the ability to listen to him, the ability to make him understand that life can be lived further, even with this diagnosis. Perhaps the most important thing of all is for the patient to receive the help needed to maintain his dignity and self-respect.<\/p>
A stable, calm environment can play a key role in managing the behavioral changes that are inevitable in such situations. Unforeseen events, noise, large groups of people, outside pressure to remember information, or asking to solve complicated problems can cause anxiety, and the patient becomes irritable and the ability to think clearly is further reduced. Therefore, caring for a person with Alzheimer’s requires a lot of attention, compassion, patience, and understanding, and therefore it is good to seek the help of specialists to provide loved ones with optimal conditions in the fight against this disease.<\/p>
Alzheimer’s disease usually occurs in the elderly over the age of 65, but there may be cases where the symptoms appear much earlier. WebMd specialists mention, from this point of view, three main types of Alzheimer’s:<\/p>
Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the first signs of the disease is the difficulty of the person concerned to remember recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, the memory becomes weaker and weaker and other clinical manifestations appear. There are also several conditions that are related to Alzheimer’s, but there are different diseases. Therefore, it is very important to consult a specialist to establish an appropriate diagnosis and treatment schedule.<\/p>
Changes in the brain that occur in the case of this disease affect: memory, ability to think, make decisions independently, plan and solve current problems. However, there are certain abilities that can remain intact for a long time, even if the symptoms of the disease worsen. It is about reading, listening to and understanding stories, telling stories (most often from the distant past), the ability to sing, dance, draw, practice various crafts, listen consciously and take on music. These abilities are stored longer because they are controlled by a part of the brain that is affected later in the course of the disease.<\/p>
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease differ from patient to patient and evolve from case to case, faster or slower. However, general manifestations of this condition include the following:<\/p>
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As mentioned above, some symptoms may be similar to those of other conditions. It is important that at the first signs that show a deterioration of memory or other cognitive abilities, we should consult a specialist to do certain tests.<\/p>
It is also essential to pay attention to those around us, especially if they are elderly, and to notice any abnormal changes in behavior or communication.<\/p>
It should also be noted that Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, a term that is used to describe manifestations that are specific to mental decline.<\/p>
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As the disease progresses to the final stage, changes in the brain can affect physical functions such as swallowing, maintaining balance, controlling physiological needs. All this can accentuate the vulnerability to other health problems such as:<\/p>
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The exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease are unknown.\u00a0Scientists, based on numerous studies done so far on this condition, believe that there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors related to lifestyle that affect the brain over time.\u00a0In principle, however, it is about certain proteins that develop abnormally, affect the functions of nerve cells (in this case, neurons) and release toxic substances.\u00a0Neurons are damaged, lose contact with each other and eventually die.\u00a0Degeneration of nerve cells occurs first in the region of the brain that controls memory, and then their loss occurs in other areas of the brain.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> There are two possible causes of scientific research so far and they refer to different deposits of proteins in the brain:<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Among the most common risk factors that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease are:<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> The evolution of Alzheimer’s disease can sometimes extend over more than ten years.\u00a0<\/span>Throughout it, this condition has several stages with specific manifestations.\u00a0Below is a brief description of each of them, stating that the symptoms and the evolution itself differ from patient to patient.<\/span><\/p> There are five stages associated with Alzheimer’s disease:<\/strong><\/p> The term “dementia” is used to describe a series of symptoms that affect intellectual capacity and social skills so severely that they lead to an inability to have normal activity and behavior.<\/span><\/p> Knowing the five stages of the disease helps you understand what may happen in the future, but it is important to note that these are just general descriptions and that, depending on the case, the disease may have different manifestations, slower or faster, milder or more severe than those listed below.\u00a0In any case, keep in mind that this is a continuous process, irreversible, but that can be slowed or improved, and not cured, unfortunately, with the help of appropriate treatment.<\/span><\/p> Stage I – Preclinical Alzheimer’s<\/span><\/strong>– the disease begins long before the symptoms are visible, that is why it is called “preclinical Alzheimer’s”; this stage of the neurological condition can last for decades, without the person concerned or those around them realizing it; although not visible, there are some state-of-the-art tests that can detect the presence of beta-amyloid proteins, which can form plaques in certain regions of the brain and play an important role in triggering Alzheimer’s disease; there are also certain biomarkers that can identify the increased risk of developing the disease, but they are usually effective when the first signs already appear; various genetic tests can also be done, but they are not suitable for any patient and then it is essential to recommend a specialist who will tell you if they are indicated or not;<\/span><\/p> Stage II – Slight cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0– at this stage, there are some minor changes related to memory and the thought process, which do not affect, however, the ability to work or relate to others;\u00a0It should be noted that not all people with cognitive decline suffer from Alzheimer’s, which can be a consequence of other medical problems;\u00a0symptoms at this stage include:<\/span><\/p> Stage III – Mild dementia, as a consequence of Alzheimer’s disease<\/span><\/strong> – this is usually the stage in which the disease is diagnosed because the symptoms become obvious;\u00a0note that these symptoms may have other causes than Alzheimer’s disease;\u00a0among the manifestations that can be observed at this stage are:<\/span><\/p> Stage IV – Moderate dementia caused by Alzheimer’s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0– at this stage, patients have even more confusion, often forget and begin to need help with daily chores or to take care of them;\u00a0Among the specific symptoms of this stage of the disease are:<\/span><\/p> Stage V – Severe dementia caused by Alzheimer’s<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0– mental functions continue to deteriorate and the patient no longer has the ability to move alone or lead a normal life without help;\u00a0Among the typical manifestations for this stage of the disease are:<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is a long process and involves several stages, from medical consultation, blood tests to radiological tests, which exclude other causes of dementia-specific symptoms.\u00a0<\/span>To establish an effective treatment scheme that meets the needs of the patient, it is very important to go to the doctor from the first symptoms.<\/span><\/p> In addition to the actual medical consultation that includes the patient’s medical history, the doctor may recommend several tests such as:<\/span><\/p> It should be noted that scientists are still trying to find new methods to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, just as they are looking for treatment schemes that not only slow down the process of nerve cell damage but also cure the disease.<\/span><\/p> So far, scientists have not been able to find the exact drug treatment for Alzheimer’s, but there are certain substances that can relieve the symptoms of this disease.\u00a0Among them, the specialist doctor could recommend:<\/span><\/p> Also, certain herbal treatments may be indicated, which are complementary to the medicinal one.\u00a0Certain herbs, vitamins, and supplements may have a positive effect in relieving symptoms, but there are no scientific studies that have proven their effectiveness so far. These include:<\/span><\/p>Possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease<\/span><\/h4>
Risk factors<\/span><\/span><\/h4>
Stages of Alzheimer’s disease – how it evolves?<\/h4>
Diagnosis and treatment<\/h4>
Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease<\/span><\/h4>
Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease<\/span><\/span><\/h4>